A long time comming, memories of another time
I was born in the Black Hills. That wonderfully magical place we traveled to every year to see our cousins and loved ones. When i was born, or so my mother told me, a Raven came into our lodge and cawed three times. My crys were choked like that in my youth. so i was called Little Raven until i was allowed to recieve my first vision quest.
I wont go into full detail of my life then because it is irrelivent for todays story. Todays story is about wheels, and the circles of life that constantly repeat themselves. It is a story about changing the mistakes I have made in my past.
I remember my naming day. The spirits had spoken and when I cam out of the Hills, I cried out my new name so that all my family and loved ones could hear me. I was now Raven-Whispers-to-the-Black-Wolf. I remember thinking about only one thing as I ran down to greet those who had awaited my return. Winning the respect of a particular elder, who happened to be the father of the woman I loved. It is hard to find words for her name in english, but the closest way to say it would be: Dances in the Sky with Golden Eagles. or just dances with eagles as i was sometimes just black wolf.
Less than a moon from my naming, my love and i were laying by a stream in the Hills. I asked of her virtue, she blushed. I asked of her feelings, she smiled I asked her what her father would ask of me for her hand, she frowned. From me it would be 200 horses. I was miserable, where was a simple warrior like me to get so many horses. I say warrior, but i was being trained by the medicine man in our clan also. I feared my medicine, and my heart burned still with the passion of youth, So warrior i was to myself.
The Crow had horses. I needed horses. This is well. Now i could prove my prowess and win my love. I made my plans. I went to her father, i was trying hard not to shake out of my skins. I said, "I wish your daughters hand in marrige, I will take her to my lodge, I know your price to be 200 horses, and you shall have them in one months time. If i do not return in one months time, know that i am dead, and i shall meet you in the next world."
I sought out the crow. They were enemys of my people, and so this would be a great coup to count upon them. I snuck into their camp an carefully began untying their horse lines. They were embracing the white ways quickly, they lasily tethered their horses all in one big area. I sought out the dominate stallion and mounted his back. I began riding and smacking all the horses on their flanks and raced away. Since i was riding the "chief" of these horses they followed me. To make a long story short, i arrived within my one moons time, driving these perfect beasts to my loves father. All the village was dumbfounded. I was wed that week.
It was just under a year time since our joining. When we began our travels back to the Black Hills. Food was scarce. I was now on the path the ancestors denmanded of me. I was learning the ways of medicine. We needed food. No one was having much luck. The white men had been scaring off the buffalo, and killing them by the thousands. We made camp, and had another weeks travel until we reached the Hills. Someone had to find something to eat. So I set out.
She begged me not to leave and I said that I must. I knew I wouldnt find much, but I just had to try. When i returned I saw smoke. The camp was burning, and there were sounds of screaming and wailing.
I raced to my lodge in time to see four crow leaving rushing out the front flap.
My heart was racing and i ignored them to search inside. Just as I feared, my wife lay dying. In her hand was a bundle of herbs, her dress was tattered, and a pool of blood was growing between her thighs. I could smell the musk of a man who had planted his seed. The crow, had adopted the white ways of war, and had raped my lovely wife. I stayed by her side, ignoring the pain and suffering i heard outside my dwelling. I did all that i could to ease her suffering. I was in her last breaths that she awoke and told me, just as i had suspected, that she had been with child. Thats when her eyes closed, her breathing stopped, and i screamed.
I screamed like no man should ever have to scream. It was the howl of loss, hate, love, and rage. I resonated to the heavens like a prayer, and it was a prayer I would see answered. A prayer of vengence.
I lifted her up and took her toward scafoldings that were already being erected for the dead. I layed her atop the sweetgrass and sage. I pulled my Knife, and cut my arms, forehead and chest. The blood and my tears mingled with my sweat and i began to go numb with both the physical and emotional pain. I lopped off my braids and tossed them upon her breast,And i set her ablaze.
I kept walking until i found a horse. It was a fine white stallion, my blood would stand out perfectly on its skin. I began painting my medicine upon it. I was so covered in blood Iused myself as a mixing palette. I grabbed a warlance, a bow, a quiver, and checked to see i still had a knife in my boot. I headed off to face my death.
Hoka He!
I galloped full speed toward the four crow. I arrived within bow range when my horse colapsed. I nocked an arrow and shouted. The turned and dismounted. The dintd draw their bows, or their rifles. They still had some of the old ways ingrained in them, despite their "hang around the fort mentalities". I pointed to the one with scratches on his face, and rushed him with my spear. He was dumbfounded and I felt little satisfaction to see his body impaled so easily. I kicked him away and dispached the other three with equal ease. Rage boiled within me still. I was slick with the fresh blood of my enemies. I grabbed another knife from one of the fallen crow and stuck it in my breaches. I walked along without stopping, following the tracks of the raiding party back to its source.
I made it to the center of their camp. Stood proudly and howled. The camp came alive as people rushed out to see what was going on. I can only imagine their fear as the saw the venging bloodcovered spirit before them. Buffalo fat torches began to sputter alive. I prayed to the the directions, to the father above, the spirit of all, and told the mother below id see her soon. I tookone of the knives and used it to pin one leg to the ground. I gestured for the warriors to greet me. I was counting coup already by limiting my movement with the knife. First they came one at a time, and they died one at a time. Then they came in twos, and died in twos. Finally, I fell. The last thing i remember, was dying a warrior, my heart in my killers hands.
I could slip away, and search for my Love again.
I wont go into full detail of my life then because it is irrelivent for todays story. Todays story is about wheels, and the circles of life that constantly repeat themselves. It is a story about changing the mistakes I have made in my past.
I remember my naming day. The spirits had spoken and when I cam out of the Hills, I cried out my new name so that all my family and loved ones could hear me. I was now Raven-Whispers-to-the-Black-Wolf. I remember thinking about only one thing as I ran down to greet those who had awaited my return. Winning the respect of a particular elder, who happened to be the father of the woman I loved. It is hard to find words for her name in english, but the closest way to say it would be: Dances in the Sky with Golden Eagles. or just dances with eagles as i was sometimes just black wolf.
Less than a moon from my naming, my love and i were laying by a stream in the Hills. I asked of her virtue, she blushed. I asked of her feelings, she smiled I asked her what her father would ask of me for her hand, she frowned. From me it would be 200 horses. I was miserable, where was a simple warrior like me to get so many horses. I say warrior, but i was being trained by the medicine man in our clan also. I feared my medicine, and my heart burned still with the passion of youth, So warrior i was to myself.
The Crow had horses. I needed horses. This is well. Now i could prove my prowess and win my love. I made my plans. I went to her father, i was trying hard not to shake out of my skins. I said, "I wish your daughters hand in marrige, I will take her to my lodge, I know your price to be 200 horses, and you shall have them in one months time. If i do not return in one months time, know that i am dead, and i shall meet you in the next world."
I sought out the crow. They were enemys of my people, and so this would be a great coup to count upon them. I snuck into their camp an carefully began untying their horse lines. They were embracing the white ways quickly, they lasily tethered their horses all in one big area. I sought out the dominate stallion and mounted his back. I began riding and smacking all the horses on their flanks and raced away. Since i was riding the "chief" of these horses they followed me. To make a long story short, i arrived within my one moons time, driving these perfect beasts to my loves father. All the village was dumbfounded. I was wed that week.
It was just under a year time since our joining. When we began our travels back to the Black Hills. Food was scarce. I was now on the path the ancestors denmanded of me. I was learning the ways of medicine. We needed food. No one was having much luck. The white men had been scaring off the buffalo, and killing them by the thousands. We made camp, and had another weeks travel until we reached the Hills. Someone had to find something to eat. So I set out.
She begged me not to leave and I said that I must. I knew I wouldnt find much, but I just had to try. When i returned I saw smoke. The camp was burning, and there were sounds of screaming and wailing.
I raced to my lodge in time to see four crow leaving rushing out the front flap.
My heart was racing and i ignored them to search inside. Just as I feared, my wife lay dying. In her hand was a bundle of herbs, her dress was tattered, and a pool of blood was growing between her thighs. I could smell the musk of a man who had planted his seed. The crow, had adopted the white ways of war, and had raped my lovely wife. I stayed by her side, ignoring the pain and suffering i heard outside my dwelling. I did all that i could to ease her suffering. I was in her last breaths that she awoke and told me, just as i had suspected, that she had been with child. Thats when her eyes closed, her breathing stopped, and i screamed.
I screamed like no man should ever have to scream. It was the howl of loss, hate, love, and rage. I resonated to the heavens like a prayer, and it was a prayer I would see answered. A prayer of vengence.
I lifted her up and took her toward scafoldings that were already being erected for the dead. I layed her atop the sweetgrass and sage. I pulled my Knife, and cut my arms, forehead and chest. The blood and my tears mingled with my sweat and i began to go numb with both the physical and emotional pain. I lopped off my braids and tossed them upon her breast,And i set her ablaze.
I kept walking until i found a horse. It was a fine white stallion, my blood would stand out perfectly on its skin. I began painting my medicine upon it. I was so covered in blood Iused myself as a mixing palette. I grabbed a warlance, a bow, a quiver, and checked to see i still had a knife in my boot. I headed off to face my death.
Hoka He!
I galloped full speed toward the four crow. I arrived within bow range when my horse colapsed. I nocked an arrow and shouted. The turned and dismounted. The dintd draw their bows, or their rifles. They still had some of the old ways ingrained in them, despite their "hang around the fort mentalities". I pointed to the one with scratches on his face, and rushed him with my spear. He was dumbfounded and I felt little satisfaction to see his body impaled so easily. I kicked him away and dispached the other three with equal ease. Rage boiled within me still. I was slick with the fresh blood of my enemies. I grabbed another knife from one of the fallen crow and stuck it in my breaches. I walked along without stopping, following the tracks of the raiding party back to its source.
I made it to the center of their camp. Stood proudly and howled. The camp came alive as people rushed out to see what was going on. I can only imagine their fear as the saw the venging bloodcovered spirit before them. Buffalo fat torches began to sputter alive. I prayed to the the directions, to the father above, the spirit of all, and told the mother below id see her soon. I tookone of the knives and used it to pin one leg to the ground. I gestured for the warriors to greet me. I was counting coup already by limiting my movement with the knife. First they came one at a time, and they died one at a time. Then they came in twos, and died in twos. Finally, I fell. The last thing i remember, was dying a warrior, my heart in my killers hands.
I could slip away, and search for my Love again.